Experiencing yet another devastating forest fire that afflicted the forests of Northeastern Attica and the long-suffering Mount Pentelicus, causing great losses in forest lands, houses, animals, injuries and even human lives, we faced something unprecedented: it is no longer only the ecosystem that is threatened; humans are a threatened species as well. As our thoughts are with the people who were affected in any way by the fire’s severity, for us at Sympraxis a breath of hope is the fact that the areas with the thousands of trees planted by our corporate partners and with our support in the same area of ​​Penteli, remained intact.

The redeeming features were the proximity to the Marathon Lake, which acted as an mound for the fire, the non-stop watering during the summer season to keep the soil relatively moist, the patrols of our experienced partners in the field, and the continuous and self-sacrificing support of the fire brigades during all critical hours.

Faced with an almost complete lack of rain in the previous months, the forest ecosystems cannot respond to this relentless drought, and it does not take a single spark for the forest to be left at the mercy of the fire. The strong winds, which gain tremendous force fueled by the fire, expand and multiply the fire fronts in a flash. The temperatures are now permanently extreme, as, for yet another year, the hottest year in history is recorded.

The forest fires descend from the mountains of Attica, Penteli, Parnitha, Hymettus and Geraneia, and penetrate the urban fabric burning parts of the city in their wake. There is no end to the phenomena associated with the threat to human life, as large fires are followed by large floods with an unpredictable impact upon the danger for human life.

The number of forest fires will not stop increasing, growing out of control and destroying, until all of us get mobilised against the generative causes of climate change, by restructuring our lives and our societies.  Adapting to the ominous conditions brought by climate crisis is now the number one priority for Greece, the Mediterranean countries, the planet.

Sympraxis is committed to continuing its prevention, protection and reforestation actions, by both implementing new actions with new corporate partners and by looking after the existing reforestations, constantly taking care of the reforested areas. We go on, and we invite you to support us in our reforestation efforts, evaluating the results with our commitment that at least 75% of the new trees planted will manage to survive.